Automatic strip starter



1954 G. w. MOORE 2,685,418

AUTOMATIC STRIP STARTER Filed July 9, 19 51 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE w. MOORE ATTORNEYS G. W. MOORE AUTOMATIC STRIP STARTER Aug. 3, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jul}, 9, 1951 Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STRIP STARTER George W. Moore, Wintersville, Ohio, assignor of ten per cent to Sallie B. Moore and ten per cent to Howard Nelson Moore, both of Ruxton, Md.

Application July 9, 1951, Serial No. 235,884

33 Claims.

it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to be equally applicable to hot strip mills and to mills in which non-ferrous metals are worked. Again, the invention is a strip starter and is therefore equally applicable to those mills employing a series of roll stands through which the strip passes once and those mills having only one or a few roll stands through which the strip is passed back and forth until the desired gauge and finish is obtained.

The stock to be worked upon is delivered to the work space or area in a coil which is often bound with wire or bands to prevent unrolling. With the smaller sizes of coils, those of light gauge and narrow width, many times all that is necessary is to place the coil bundle on a proper size reel, cut the binding wires and enter the end of the strip into the feed of a press, the first roll stand or other machine as the case may be, by hand.

If, however, as is often the case, one must deal with strip stock wherethe coil of stock may weigh several tons, be four or five feet wide and the strip itself have a thickness of inch or more, the handling of the coil and starting the end into the feed of a machine can present quite a problem. At present this problem is solved by having enough husky men on the job to manhandle the coil to proper position, pull the end away from the body of the coil, straighten the first few feet in an operation called breaking its back and starting the straightened end into the feed of the machine or the bite of the rolls. The starting of the strip is an operation that is required in many operations where metal is worked or processed such as picking, rolling, polishing, slitting etc. As stated this operation of starting is now done by hand and requires fifteen to twenty percent of the total mill time required to process a coil.

It is an object of the invention to provide a strip starter which will eliminate the handling above described, position the coil, pry out the end, break its back and feed the free end to the feed of a press, bite of a working or feed roll, etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide a strip starter which is fully automatic in its operation or one in which many of the steps are under the direct operational control of an opera tor as may be desired,

Reference is made to the drawings which are to be taken as illustrative and not as limiting. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of fully automatic machine.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of an automatic control for the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a variant form of a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is an elevation of another form of strip starter.

Fig. 5 is a control panel circuit diagram.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of rack and gearing detail of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of Fig. 4.

One form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises an inclined runway It on which coils ll of steel strip are rolled or placed by a crane in side by side relation with an end l2 of the strip extending from each coil H in a clockwise direction. Ends 12 are usually tight to the coil, but where they extend more than six or eight inches from the body of their coil it they may be hammered back. Coils II are preferably unbanded after spotting on runway l0 thus reducing the likelihood of undue freedom of end I2 in the lighter gauges. Coils II have a central channel I3.

Coils i l are held from rolling down runway H) by a plunger M which is biased by a tension spring and operated by a solenoid or air cylinder [5. A second similarly biased plunger it and solenoid ll assure that the coils H are fed one at a time. When a coil ll is released by the second plunger It the coil rolls down runway It until it comes to rest in shallow depression l8. Curved arms 19 prevent over running and will return a coil to depression 18 which is centered just above lift table or platform 20 mounted on a long worm 2i actuated by an internally threaded worm wheel 22 driven by worm 23 on the shaft of motor 24 mounted on frame member 25.

Lift table 20 is curved on its upper surface to receive coils H of varying diameters. Frame 25 carries a selsyn pair 26-, 21 which may be related mechanically through a suitable linkage, a flexible cable, or connected electrically as shown. Selsyn 26 has a feeler arm 28 which projects'toward the center of a coil l l resting on curved depression l8 and performs the double function of determining whether or not a coil is present in depression l8 and also the radius or diameter of any coil 1 l which may be sion 88.

Lift table to raises a coil H from depression 18 to proper position between trumiions GS mounting tapered projecting arbor portions of stub shafts 36 which are designed to enter the two ends of channel l3 of the coils H, and sup port the coils for rotation. Lift table so raises coil H until arm 31 trips switch 32 which is positioned vertically by selsyn 2?. Trip switch 32 is a multiple switch which breaks the circuit of h motor 24 when channel i3 is aligned with arbors 2S and energizes motor 33 which acts through worm 3 2 and worm wheel 35 to move thetrun-- nions towards each other. and to cause the arbors 22 to enter the channels is and support a coil H. When trunnions 68 have moved inward far enough so that arbors 23 have grippedtheinner wall of channel l3 the projecting arm of multiple switch 3? breaks the circuit of motor 33 and closes a reversing circuit of motor 2 thus stopping motor 33 and returning lift table 2.3 to its normal position. Switch 38 serves the dou-. ble function of openingthe reversing circuit of motor 2d when lift table as is in its lower posi-.. tion and opening the circuits of solenoids I? and i5 when lift table 253 is raised from its coil receiving position.

Multiple switch also closes the circuit of motor 39 which drives the stub shafts 3B, face plates lii, arbors 2S and the coil H supported the'rebetween in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1. Switch 3? also closes a circuit which energizes solenoidor air cylinder H and moves the scraper r peelingassembly toward rotating coil H, compressing return spring 42. The element ila in Fig. 2 'represents'the solenoid of element 4| of Fig. 1 or where d! is an air cylinder as shown 41a represents a solenoid operated air valve therefor. This action slides plate 53 over frame-25 and presses nose portion 3- against the moving side of coil H. When end It reaches nose portion at it is peeled off and slides along plate 43.

In the'event end i2 is below the nose 64 before it is pressed against the coil H, curved guide 7.5 serves to press the end i2 towards the body of the coil H so that it will stay in place for a comple e revolution until the end 12 reaches the nose dd from a clockwise direction. While'it is preferred to have the coil H rotate initially in a clockwise direction it may be desirable-with light gauges first to rotate it counterclockwise until the end !2 trips 9. feeler'switch such as as to reverse motor S9 to turn strip" coil i! clockwise and to advance plate'sa vent a cobble when end i2 is initially just below nose-44' and has bound itself between guide 45 and the body of coil: 5 ii Although feeler switch 46 is thought unnecessary for this pur Ose in the usual installation it would be a good thing to ive the machine attendantoverriding control both to stop the entire operation or reverse motor-39to prevent an impendingcoblole. Feeler switch iii serves another purpose in 1 and 2.

positioned in depresplate is between flange guide i'l'it trips switch 48 which .actuates solenoid or aircylinder'ce, energizes motor 55 andopensthe circuit of motor 353. Motor 552 is mounted on slidin plate 3 and geared'to roll 5| which it rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Air cylinder ddacts on the short arm 52 of bell crank 53 which is pivoted at 5% on plate idbeing movable therewith.

Bell crank 53 is rotated counterclockwise and with-its noseie. This would precarries roll 55, rotatably mounted in slot 56, down against the steel strip which is gripped between the two rolls 5! and 55. Roll 5! has a spur gear 5? mounted on the same shaft which mates with spur gear ,8 similarly mounted with respect to roll 55. As the rolls 5! and 55 are pressed together by bell crank 53 spur gears El and 58 mesh and motor 553 drives bothrolls 5i and 55 at a speed to feedthe steel strip at the required numher or lineal feet per minute to correspond to the surface speed of rolls 58 and 5B of the first roll stand 51. Roll 55 and gear are mounted in a bearing slidable in slot 56 against a spring. This movement will eliminate what possibility there is thattheteeth of gears 57 and 53 might not mesheasily. The steel strip is now fed along plate 23 by rolls 5! and 55. Arm 52 is moved a distance to correspond to the width of the strip and is connected to adjust guides 53 forming part of first roll stand 6!. The strip passes along plate fit, between first stand guides 63 and enters the firstroll standfi i. where it is gripped by working rolls 59 and lit.

As the end of the strip leaves roll stand it trips switch 65 which opens the circuits closed by switch idreleasing air cylinder and permitting bell crank to rotate clockwise under the action of spring 53-. The circuit of motor is opened and both rolls 5! and are deenergized- Switch 55 does not close the circuit of motor 39 which is still opened by switch it as long as its arm is depressed b the presence of steel strip above it. Of course'the attendant can exercise independentcontrol of motor 33 and adjust the tension on the strip of coil- H between the coil and roll stand 52 by applying a braking action through the reversal of motor 39 with a small current.

When the end of the steel strip forming a coil H passes by'switch its feeler arm rises and a new cycle is initiated. When the attendant" turns his control switch 6? to automatic" switch 56 functions to return all parts of'the machine to- I normal and closes the'starting circuit of motor r 25. However, arm 28 of selsyn 25 operates a switch which opensthe circuit or" motor 2-; when spring pressed arm 28 is extended its 'full l ngth in the absence of a coil H in depression l8.' When line switch 19! on the attendants panel I92. Al-

though the circuit of Fig. 2 is shown as D. C. or single phase A. 2, with the exception of selsyn motors 26, 2?, 62a and 63a, it will be understood that the circuit is representative anolthe apparatus ma. be wired for three phase A. C. or all As end l2 passes nose Mi and advances along y three types of power supply may be used in con.- junction as maybe convenient or desirable.

Coil liftmotor- 2 2, is provided with leadsl03 and His and isconnected across line. [E33 by wire l H35 leading to junction its and wire it? leading to junctionlllB. .Wire till has switches 28b and both wires Hi3 and ill being .connected to the other wire of line lull than to wire I65. This cir' normally closed at the start and serve to stop the lift of a coil I I by opening the direct drive or lift circuit of motor 23 at the proper time. If all is in order the operator can anticipate the action of automatic switch 55 by closing switch =51 if he desires. It is important that the kinematic cycle of the machine as well as the instant of initiation and duration of the individual events and the operation of the various switches, relays, solenoids and cylinders be so arranged and correlated that there is sufiicient time clearance to cause the machine to operate smoothly, but not so much clearance that the complete cycle is unduly prolonged.

Switch 38 has two sets oi contacts, a. which is open and b which is closed when its spring biased arm is raised. Switch 38 is positioned under lift table 25 adjacent its coil receiving position so that when lift table or platform is in position to receive a coil II the spring biased arm or switch 38 is depressed with contact 38a closed and contact 3811 opened. Switch arm 28 has two sets of contacts, a which are closed and b which are open when moved to the right by its spring bias in the absence of a coil II in depression I8. When contacts 280. and 38a are both closed, solenoids I5 and II are connected in series by wire I I I and are connected to supply line I 55 by wires H2 and IIS. Solenoids I5 and I? are then energizecl and depress plungers It and It against their springs, permitting a coil I I to roll into depression I8 where it moves switch arm 28 to the left, opening contacts 28a and closing twin contacts 2% and 280. This action opens the circuit of solenoids I5 and I? and closes contacts 281) in the lift circuit of motor 24.

As switch arm 28 moves to the left under the action of a coil II in depression I8 it rotates selsyn motor 28 by an amount equal to the radius of coil I I. Arm 2B is maintained in its left radius indicating position by a locking solenoid II5 which is provided with a delay condenser lit to allow for oscillations which may occur in coil I I reaching equilibrium position in depression I3. Solenoid H5 is connected to line IIiIl by wires III and III the last containing switch contacts 320 and 280. Contacts 520 are closed at the start of operations. The closing of contacts c and by a coil I I moving into position energizes locking solenoid H5.

Selsyn 25 is connected by line M2 to selsyn 21 which through arm I28 bodily moves switch 32 upward a distance to correspond to the coil radius as indicated by switch arm 28 and maintained by locking solenoid I I5.

Switch 32 has a spring biased arm which, when raised by arm SI carried by lift table 25, pivots to open contacts 32a in the direct drive circuit of lift motor 22, to close contacts 32b in the direct drive circuit of trunnion motor 33 and to open contacts 32c in the circuit of Selsyn locking solenoid I I5. The opening of contacts 320 in wire I It allows the selsyn pair 22-2? to return under the action of the spring biased arm 28 and lift table 25 is slotted 6 to pass the extended arm 28 on return to coil receiving position.

Trunnion motor 33 has leads I2I and I22 connected to line I05 by wire I23 which meets lead I2 I at junction I24 and Wire I25 which meets lead I22 at junction I26. Wire I25 has initially open contacts 22b and initially closed contacts 310:. in its circuit. Leads I2I and I22 are connected to a reversing circuit comprising wires I21 and I28 from supply line I00. Wire I2! has initially closed contacts Me in its circuit and feeler switch 26. Feeler switch 45 opens at about the same time as switch 32 is actuated by arms 3 I. Switch 32 closes contacts 321) and operates motor 33 to advance trunnions 6B and arbors 29 towards coil I I. As the trunnions 68 move from extreme open position automatic stop limit switch I29 in the reversing circuit closes. Stop switch I29 is mounted on frame 25 and is actuated by movement of the trunnions 68 which open the switch when separated far enough to receive the widest coil I I. Switch I29 has contacts a and b in wires I2? and I28 to prevent short circuit on the closing of contacts 221) in wire I25.

Face plates II} are mounted on stub shafts 3&3 adjacent arbors 29 and function to grip the side of the coil II lightly. This pressure may be ad justed to increase the gripping of face plates II) to supplement the action of arbors 22 in chain nel I3 if desired. Plates M are separated from trunnions 63 by springs I36 which are compressed by movement of the trunnions after plates 45 contact the side of the coil II. mounted on one trunnion 68 and has an arm 35 which projects towards one plate 4B and is depressed thereby as the separating Springs I35 are compressed and actuates switch 3?. This ac tion of arm 36 opens contacts 31a in wire I25 of the direct drive circuit of motor 33, closes contacts 31b in wire ISI of the direct drive circuit of motor 39, closes contact 22c and 37d in the reversing circuit of motor 2d, and closes contacts El e in circuit I32 of the solenoid operated valve A la of air cylinder 4 I. As noted above 2! can be a heavy duty operating solenoid if desired in which case lla becomes a suitable relay.

Ihe reversing circuit of motor 2 5 comprises wires I32 and I34 connected to supply line I58. Wire I33 contains initially open contacts 38b and has an open end which together with the open end of lead IE3 comprise contacts 37d. Wire I32 likewise has a free end which together with the open end of lead I54 comprise contacts 310.

Motor 39 has leads I35 and I36 which run to a reversing switch I3'I on the panel IE2. Switch IS'I is normally closed to connect motor 39 to drive a coil II clockwise. Wire I3I, containing initially open contacts 31b and initially closed contacts 481), connects line IIIII at junction I32 with lead I35. One central pole of reversing switch I31 is connected to line Inc by a wire I39 containing a rheostat I 25. The other central pole of reversing switch I3? is connected to line I00 by a wire IRI containing a manual switch M2. Rheostat MI! enables the operator-attendant to adjust the speed of motor 39 and thereby the coil speed where desirable to control the starting of the strip. Reversingswitch I3! and rheostat I lil give the operator-attendant an increased measure of control. When strip is running through roll stand GI rheostat I48 permits adjustment of tension on the strip. Rheostat I may be used for emergency control to stop motor 39. Switch I52 gives overriding control to the operator when desired of motor 39 without ref- Switch 3'! is erencento ."switches :31 (.48: Switch .1 42: :.-is 2:;

opened for full automatic operation Moton-EB khas deadsxlfiw and Mt". connected to junction 145 iWithiWiIB' I45 and junction M7 with...

wire. I48, ,respectivelyw .Wires- I46 and. I48 .COl'l-L' meet to the solenoid:48aawhichoperates the valve controlling thesupply ofair to cylindenll i Wire I46 contains; initiallynpen contacts 58m; between;

junction: M 1 and rline I I092? Wire: I 43 contains: initially closed switch-r65 between junction- I41? and line .lflllmr' Selsyns 62a; ande63a arezconnected by a line I49. and: adjustthelrol-l stand guidc to the width.

of coil ll'inga wellsknownimanner; the guide 53 being I part: of. a. standard mill andmvell known in the art.

The operationiof thezstrip'starterof Figs. 1 and-.=

Coils H are:placedz on runwayjil with ends I2- pointing. clockwisenvhere; after; bands zare. re-

moved, they rundown against stopz I l. As lift; table'29 is in coil .receivingzpositionthe arm of SWitCh38 depressed; i-Contacts38w are closed and contacts 3812 are closed; .=.In the'absenceof any coil 1 I in dBDIBSSiOIlJB;"81111328 has moved to the right under springaction; closing. contacts 23a.

and opening twin'contacts :2 fiband 230 The circuitof solenoids. I5andi-I'I is thus completed to line lflli throughboth contacts-38a and. 28a. and

the solenoids: operate to drawdown plungers I 4 and-I6 and permit; coils to advance. As soon as a coil I I moves=arm 2.8. to the leftit breaks contact 28a andplungersrlA and IE arereturned to stop position underzspring;..action.- Plungers M and I6 are spaced .to-obtain the coil distribution shown in Fig; 1. uWhere: coils I I weighingsew eral tons are processed airrcylinders maybe used instead of solenoids-l5 andrl6 and' the plunger I4 and-I6 provided with atransverse stopblar. v

The switchiarm 28ispositioned so thatthe displacement of it to the =leftTby-a coil II is a measure .of the radius: or :diameteruof the coil.

Thisdisplacement ofarmrzll 'may be from the axis of a-coil H resting :in .depression IBor it may be from a. selected point-representing the 1 outside of a coil II of minimum diameterl. .Arm 28 arm 28 to the left closes twin contacts 2% "and-:-

280 which are connected in the drive circuit of motor 24 and 'locking solenoid-ii5 respectively. As contacts 320 are initially closed through wires! I7 andx'llii is complete and looking solenoid is energized and'holds arm 28 in the circuit its displaced' -left: hand. position; Locking sole noid H 5 has delay characteristics provided by condenser H6 so that arm 28 is a coil II has come to restin depression I8 thus eliminating; a falsetindicationuof coil diameter.

locked only after- However, a, tolerance of. several inches is permissible in thisimeasurement;

Movement:.of switch-arm 28 to the left closes contacts 28brin thedirect drive-circuit of lift motor 24I=As contacts 48d and 320/. are initially closed' motcrl l begins to rotate worm 2i and'to raise lift table 20 with the-coil II in depression I8 of.runway-iIIljustabove-it as soon-as the-end of the ZDIBViOLlS. cell has: left roll stand BI and a1- loweda-iswitcliviifii :to' closer; the. I: circuit. The:- rates tendant: can' anticipate the 2 action of switch: :66 f 9 by closingzswitch- 6-! if he ;wishes:.

As lifttable 20 rises; the springbiased-arm of:

switch 38. rises; opening contacts 38a; in 'thecir-e' cuitof solenoidsil5 and I! andsclosingcontacts: 38b in wire. I33 of the:reversing.circuitgof motorw- 24. .Asthe coil-II on table 28 is lifted arm 2,8 re.=.

mains in its .lockedi Iefthandrposition and; table :5

20 rises until arm 3i tripszswitch 32;

All the switches are: tocbe regardedv as having: their actuating armsppivoted zat the 'leftsexcept .are direct. plunger Switchestiififi and;.48 haxzectheir actuat-. ing arms. depressed-and: returned by. springlbias;..=r Switch 32'has its arm raisedabyzarmtland is re-r I switches 28aand -I2El.a:which types;

turned by spring bias:

Ascoil Ii is raised to position between 1tru1i.-.-'.. nions. 68 it presses-against"and :opensieeler: switch it in wire 1.27. of theireversingcircuit-cf: 1

motor 331' The actuationof-switch tz'by arni 3| on tableu- 28 opens contacts 32min the directdrive of motor it; closes contacts 32b 'inwire 25. of theldirectdrive CllCllilIiOf motor. 33 .andiopens contacts 320 in wire H801 thecircuit of locking solenoid 116;

cpening .of. contacts 32a stops motor 24 and lift table 28 at .a pointnvhere theparticular ccili I is in positionso thatarbo'rs-ilii may enterthe ends "of channel 13; Channel I3 is large enough and arbors. 2.9 have suiiicienttaper to :some' inaccuracy in positioningof a coil-such as that: dueito an-end I2 being directly against arm. 28 when it is measuring coil allow 5 for diameten: ceptable;

is hammered backybut :this is infrequent in the heavier gauges: and seldom occurs where care is .A tolerance ofseveral inches-is ac taken in bandingandunbanding the coils :I I. If desired the? attendantcannbe given-a separate: I

controlcircuitiorlmotoivfls' to makeany"-necessary adjustments... suchiover riding control can be-provided individually-for any of the various-'- motors; solenoids and ylinders.

The closing of contacts 321) energizes---motor'- 33 and-causes trunniQnSiGS, .-bearing stub shafts 30, tapered: arbor -.portions:.29, face plates d-fl" andarm 36 :of switch-31 to approach coil II.

The-opening of c.0ntacts232c. breaks the circuit :which releases: slowly because. of condenser I I6. .The' delay time of solenoid H5 is sufiicient to permit motor time i of locking solenoid 1! I5 to insertarbors 2-9 intotheends of channel I3 and-press face plate lilagainst'the coil face and:

cause it todepress arm 35-;of switchill... Assolca noid H5 releases arm-28. is moved to the right by its springbias; opening-twin contacts .ZBIIIand 28c and closing-contacts-itlm: At the same time .1; arm 28 rotates selsyn 25 and lowers the switch:-

arm 32 whichis flexible enough to bendand-free:

itself from arm 3i .on-table 29. 'I'he-.arm;:of switch 32 operates onlywhen pressed upward and so merely bends again when arm 3! passes-it 2' as table 26 is lowered.

Initial movement oftrunnicns 58 permits-the plunger of springrbiased stop switch I29 to close-.- contacts 129a and IZEU-ln Wires- I2! and I28 of" l the reversing circuit of motor 33. Two contacts IEQIa and. I29b. are used to avoidshortcircuit.

Trunnion motor 33.. continues. to force .arbors. 29 into channel. I3 andplates 49 against the coil..- faces until a face plate ill impinges -on..arm,36 carried by a trunnionfiii'. Arm 36 depresses the...

plunger of switch 3"! which opens contacts 31c Where an end I2 :projectstoo far-it in wire I25 of the drive circuit of trunnion motor 22 and closes contacts 311) in wire It! of the direct drive circuit of motor 39, closes contacts 310 and 37d in the reversing circuit of motor and closing contacts tile in the control circuit I32 of solenoid valve did of air cylinder 4|.

When contacts Bic open motor 33 stops and trunnions es remain in position as the worm drive is self locking. The closing of contacts 31b places motor 39 across the line as contacts 43b are initially closed and attendants reversing switch i3? is normally kept closed on the direct drive side until the attendant wishes to take over control. Motor cs begins to rotate coil II in a clockwise direction. The closing of contacts tic and 31d completes the reversing circuit of lift motor 2t which lowers table 20 until it is below depression I? of runway H} and depresses the actuating arm of switch 3%, again closing contacts 33a which allows the coils l I to advance on runway it and opening contacts 381) in wire its which stops the motor 2%. The closing of contacts 3leopens solenoid valve 4 la and admits air under pressure to cylinder il, moving plate towards coil H and pressing nose 14 against its side.

As motor 39 rotates coil i l clockwise the end it strikes nose i l and peels oif causing the strip to ride along plate d3. In the event the end l2 slips below the nose cc curved guide #15 directs the end under the coil and prevents a cobble. lhe coil continues to rotate and. the end l2 strikes the nose is again. Only very stubborn cases fail to respond to automatic action. Occasionally the attendant may have to take over and use re verse switch it? to straighten or smooth an end l2 by dragging it counterclockwise under nose A l. Again where the strip is very heavy and stiff he may open switch ltd on panel H32 and withdraw nose t l from the coil. Motor 3%! may then be speeded up by rheostat Md and the coil ll permitted to complete several rotations to build up momentum before switch its is closed to again advance nose it. This treatment will start the most stubborn coils.

As the strip advances along plate 53 between guides M the end depresses the actuating arm of switch 58 which closes contacts eta in the drive circuit of motor 55 and the actuating circuit of solenoid valve 43a, wire M5 being common to both circuits, opens contacts dab in wire it! of the drive circuit of motor 3? opens contacts 430 in wire E2? of the reversing circuit of motor 33, opens contacts ted in the drive circuit of motor 26 and opens contacts ifle in circuit i32 of solenoid valve Ala.

The closing of contacts 68a starts motor 56 which drives roll 5! at a surface speed equal to that of rolls 59 and 613 and actuates cylinder is and causes the piston rod to exert a force on arm 52 of hell crank 53 and pivots it counterclockwise about 5 3 until spur gear 53? meshes with the teeth of gear 58 and roller 55 rests on and turns with roller 5!. The slot and spring pressed pillow block 5 3 in the end of hell crank 53 assure the meshing of gears 5'! and 58. Rollers 5| and 55 pinch the strip between them and feed it along plate 43 between flange guides a l. y The opening of contacts 481) opens the circuit of motor 39 which ceases to rotate the coil l I. The opening ofcontacts 48c prevents the premature return of motor 33 and the opening of :contacts 48d prevents the premature raising of a second coil II by motor 24. The opening of contacts 486 withdraws nose M so it will not scratch the 10 surface of the steel strip. Solenoid valve Ma deenergizes and permits spring 42 to move plate A3, nose i l and roll assembly 55, 55 to the right until stop lug or arm lfii strikes plate 65.

v As the strip passes between arms 82, selsyn 62a and selsyn 63a adjust the width guides 83 of roll stand 6| to the proper width for the strip being processed. After the strip passes rolls 5s and t9 it opens switch 65 in wire M8 and switch 66 in wire Hi3. When switch 65 opens motor to stops and valve 39a exhausts cylinder 49, permitting spring cc to raise arm 53 and roll 55.

Movement of plate :3 is limited in both directions by an arm lei which is arrested by frame 25 and plate 64. As the coil ll continues to grow smaller the feeler arm of switch 68 becomes more and more horizontal until it closes switch dd in wire I27 of the-reversing circuit of motor 33. Ihe unreeling of coil it continues until the end of the strip is drawn from arbors 29 and face plates til. This releases face plates id and arm 36 of switch 3i, closing contacts 31a and opening contacts 31b, 31c, 31d and 37e. This closes the reversing circuit of motor 24 which lowers lift table 20 until the arm of switch 38 is depressed, opening contacts 3%. The opening of contacts 316 prevents premature action of solenoid valve lla.

As the end of the strip passes over and releases the depressed arm of switch 48 the arm rises, opening contacts 48a and closing contacts 481), 58c, 48d, and ite. Contacts 480 complete the reversing circuit of motor 33 which separates trunnions 65 until stopped by the opening of contacts lzsa and i2tb of switch I29. As the end of the strip passes over switches 55 and es the respective contacts of the switches in the drive circuits of motors 24 and 5t and solenoid valve etc are closed.

The closing of switch fit completes the drive circuit of motor 24 and the cycle of operation is repeated with a new coil ll.

The selsyn pairs 26, 21 and 52a, 6311 may be replaced by a mechanical equivalent where space and construction permit. Fig. 3 shows one such arrangement replacing selsyns 26, 21. Arm 28 is provided with a rack portion I52 which meshes with a pinion 153. A vertical rack area I54 is fastened to switch 32 and meshes with a wide pinion I55 meshed with pinion E53. As arm 28 moves to the left arm I54 and switch 32 are raised an equal amount. Locking solenoid H5 and delay condenser I I5 operate the same as before. A linkage arrangement could replace selsyn pair 52a, 53a.

Fig. 4 shows another form of strip starter which may be made as fully automatic as that just described, but lends itself as readily to operator control. A coil ll having an end l2 and channel i3 is raised into position by lift zoo and pushed onto rolls it: which are geared to revolve together. Frame 25 has an extension 282 which carries a slide zca on which is mounted a double acting cylinder 2% with one end of piston rod 2B5 fastened to member 266 on extension 262. Slide 2&3 has a cylindrical guide memher 207 at one end thereof with flanged ends 263 having end portions 28!! extending beyond mem her 201. Ribs 2m lend support and rigidity to the structure. I v

Double acting-cylinder 204 has two solenoid operated valves 2 and H2 connected to control switches M3 and 2% on operators control panel M5 by suitable wiring 2lB.- r

A slide 43 having a tapered nose-M and side 2H; which is-attached to slide the piston rodof cylinder.

eratecl-by a solenoid valve 22iconnected by wires "-221 to switch-2'22- on 'panel -2I5. Valve-22il is selfbleeding on release as-are valves '2 II and-'2 I 2.

actually comes into contact with-coil H.

1 guide hangings-47 is-slidably mounted on-plate B4 and ismovable to and-from eoil I I under the action of cylinder iband compression spring 2I8 which is-betweena wall off-rame 25 and member 63=and acted on by 'cylinderdl is-op- Curved guide plate-223' is-pivoted at 224- on frame 25 andhascurveddepending flange-portions 225 which fit 'just outside flanged endpor- Spring-return cylinder 230 has a solenoid valve 231 connected by wires-@312 to panel switchZBt.

Curved-plate 223 is pivoted about-22 i by spring return cylinder -234-having a-solenoid valve 235 connected to switch-235 by wires 231. -It will i 1 be understood that allof the-operating cylinders inany of-thefigures of the draWing-may'beair,

hydraulic or electrical solenoids-as a-matter of -design'choice; "For-example a heavy thrust with "long travel requires a--'heavy expensive-solenoid and might better be served by an-air, oil

- -or-water cylihder. If'desired roller 22'! may be enlarged to correspond with roller 55- and mated with anotherroller suoh as'5I' in Fig. 1. A drive can-then be provided-such as-motor-St and roller -22! could be'=driven* by spurteeth as shown in *Fig; 1.

-"The-operation of thedevice ofFig. 4 is as follows: A coiliI With end 42- projectingclockwise is placed on cr'adle-lift -2BIJ- -an'd -unba'nded. Lift 2% is raised by'a suitable cylinder controlled by switch--238on panel ziiiw When in position rela- 'tive' to drive rOIlsZB-I -'coil I I is pushedofi onto the r'oll's'by a cylinder controlled-by switcli 239.

Indicia marks onrolls 20 I will show" proper-spotting for a'coil-of given width.

ii-he operatorthen uses reversing rheostat con- =troller 24i to-controlthespeed and direction of -themotor driving-rolls EiiL When -theecoil i I- has a sufficient clockwise 1 speed" the operator *closesswitch 222 to --aotuate -cylinder 4 i i and advance-nose 44 against the coil to peel I off strip --'end'-'I2-=whichslides along between guides il of slide 43 and continues along plate-d tto the first roll-stand 6 I This is the simplest case re- -'quiring -the least/"equipment and maybe regarded as the basicstrip starter.

In--' general, beiore using controller-'- 268; the

- operator'will close switch- 21s as soon as he has checked the position of coil I Ion rolls 2M This -causes=cylinder 2Ei to-move cylindrical surface -20! with sideflanges 2!;8 and projecting portions 2E9 close to the 'coilof largest size to be handled.

If -desired surface-30'!- can beadvanced until it The operator then closes switch 236,- actuating-cylinder -ZM A and pivoting curved plate 223 about 224 until the plate ZES-rests onthe outside'end edge of cylindrical surface 28? or==extensiori228 restson the upper edges of gui'des llgor both.

- -Rheostat 'controller-=2i9 and switch 222 -are then'operatedas just described. F If for-anyreason strip edge I2 is notpeeledoif cle'anly and slips hy a cobble is prevented by curved guide-t5. Con.

Holler- 240 can now-be=reversed to bring-edge I2 --above nose or to iron out-any buckle in it. On -=the-other hand the strip --may be "continued in clockwise rotation, which is usual with theheavy gauges. While surface 29? may bespiral it is preferr'edthat it not depart very much from the cylindrical as it functions with surface 223 to I prevent looping of the strip at theinstant-end I2 strikes nosec. Ifthe strip bows-=up-ex- 'cessively onslide 53' switch 2% is closed 'and --roller 221 presses down-and -breaks its back. Where a drive motor is-empleyed roller 22? and a companion maybe used tofeed the strip to the first roll stand as previously described.

One advantage of the structure of Fig. 4 is that the operator has'complete-control at all times and may acquire-considerable-skill in operating drive rolls Bill and nose-4Q, particularly in the light gauges of-strip. This same-skill may be utilized in the construction of Fig. 1 in which the manual controls may be employed to arrest-the movement of the --nose-44short of actual contact with a coil liandthereby assure against any possible scratches on the strip =surface. However, for-mostapplications the-nose-M will not scratch if properly finished. In-the heavy gauges the problem is largely-the application of 7 sufficient forceto pryend-iz looseby nose M.

'For example the rolls 294' may rotate coil Ii several times to build up momentum before nose 44 is-advanced to-peel' off-end 2. With lighter gauges the end it maygive under-impact and partially unreel or it. may foldand darn-under or above nosetl i, causing what is called a cobble. It is with these lighter gaugesthat surfaces'ZUl' and 223 aremost useful. The open space at offset -22fipermits the insertion of abaror other tool.

made partially or fully automatic. 40..

If desiredthe arrangement in Fig. 4 may be Again curved surface 297 maybeaddedto Fig. 1 either above or together with the pivoted surfaced 23. Where this is cloneswitch 3? may beprovided with three I --additional sets of contacts i.- e}, 31f initiallybpen and connected to replace-switch 2 I3 in wires 216, 37g initially closedand -replacing switoh flili in "Wires 2!? and s3'lh initially open and replacing P switch 236 inwires-23l. Roller-22'? couldreplace variou gauges.

-' roller'55 and solenoid valve23 i=- connected between wiresl-ie and 1%8 in placeofvalve filla.

I Nose dtmay be interchangeable to suit strip of A short stubby nose of some strengthfunctions best with the-heavier gauges of strip.- As the gauge becomes lighter-the vnose 44-may be "made moreknife-like and-curved-uw Ward to approach tangency with thecoil surface.

Again nose 44 may be made somewhat massive and curved upward to fit against-the coil in a a manner suitable for'allgauges. A'ground-edge willg-ive desirable sharpness for the-"lightgauges and the massive base will provide the strength necessary for-the heavy gaugesof strip. Care should be'exeroised that aground edge on nose 44 does not-*diginto or gouge the strip. lt'may be well to-polish the ground portion to prevent scratches on v the I strip surface.

While there have been described What are at i present considered to i be the preferred embodi- -ments of the invention, it will be apparent to those a skilled in the'art,'that various changes an'd modi- --fications-may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit or scope or the invention.

- -I claim: I i l. Incombinationin"Laetit a-"starterfor-coiled strip, means" -to support -a= coi-l"of-strip" foriota- *tion, -strip peeling means comprising =a-movable plate having a relatively sharp nose integrally formed therewith and mounted for movement towards a coil in said support means, first drive means to rotate a supported coil, means to move said strip peeling means toward said coil until said nose engage the st 'ip end of said coil, guide means for directing strip to a desired location for processing, and control means adjacent said guide means and responsive to the presence of a peeled strip for causing said strip peeling means to be retracted from said coil.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, second drive means to act on a peeled strip, said control means being responsive to the peeled strip and causing the deenergization of said first drive means and the energization of said second drive means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, second drive means comprising a movable roll which acts on the upper surface of the peeled strip end.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, including means responsive to said control means to move said roll toward the peeled strip and exert a force thereon.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, means to position a coil of strip on said support means in such a manner that the convex side of a peeled strip end is upward.

6. In combination in a strip starter for coiled strip to be processed, means for supporting a coil of strip for rotation about the coil axis, drive means to rotate the coil about said axis, strip peeling means mounted for movement to strip peeling position and having a nose portion for engaging the end of a coiled length of strip and for peeling it away from the body of a coil to be processed, first guide means for receiving the peeled strip end and directing it away from said coil, and second guide means adjacentfsaid coil and below said nose portion to cause the strip end to be forced back toward said coil if not peeled off said coil above said nose portion.

'7. In a strip starter for coiled strip in a strip rolling mill, in combination means for supporting a coil of strip for rotation about the coil axis, drive means to rotate the coil, variable speed reversing control means connected to said drive means, means movable in translation and having an end portion for engaging an end of said strip I on a coil, first guide means associated with said movable means to direct the strip end away from said coil means to control the translational movement of said movable means, and second guide means adjacent the normal point of contact of said movable means and said coil for redirecting a strip end toward said coil if peeling onto said first guide means is not effected.

8. In a coil strip starter, means for supporting a coil of strip for rotation, first drivemeans to rotate a supported coil in a desired direction, movable guide means having a peeling nose for engaging a strip end, means to move said guide means and said nose into engaging relation with a strip end, to peel said stri end therefrom, second drive means movably engageable with said strip end, and control means adjacent said guide means and responsive to said strip end for rendering said first drive means inoperative and for rendering said second drive means operative.

9. In combination in a strip starter for coiled strip to be processed, means for supporting a coil of strip for rotation about the coil axis, coil drive means to rotate said coil on said support means, stri peeling means mounted adjacent said support means, means to move said strip peeling means and said coil relative to each other into strip peeling relation, means to grasp a strip end and pull strip from the coil, and a control means responsive to said strip end to deenergize said coil drive means and said means for relative movement and to energize said means to grasp a strip end when said strip end reaches a predetermined position with respect to said coil.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9, curved guide means for the end of a coil of strip.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10, including further control means for moving said curved guide means toward a coil mounted in said support means.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11, said further control means including means to reverse the direction of rotation of a coil supported for rotation.

13. In a strip starter for coiled strip to be processed, platform means for receiving a coil of strip, first sensing means adjacent said platform means for detecting the presence of a coil on said platform means and for detecting the diameter of said coil, movable supporting means positionally responsive to said sensing means, means moving said coil from said platform means to said supporting means, first drive means for rotating said coil on said supporting means, movable guide means adjacent said supporting means, said guide means having a peeling nose for en gaging a strip end, means causing said guide means to move toward and into contact with said rotating coil whereby a, strip end of said coil is peeled onto said guide means, second drive means adjacent said guide means and selectively engageable with a strip on said guide means, and second sensing means on said guide means responsive to the presence of strip thereon for deenergizing said first drive means and for energizing said second drive means.

l i. The system of claim 13 including loading means adjacent said platform means for receiv ing a plurality of coils to be processed, and means responsive to said first sensing means for releasing individual coils from said loading means to said platform means.

15. The system of claim 13 in which said supporting means and platform means are relatively movable in two dimensions, whereby said supporting means may be adjusted to coils of differing diameters to thereafter grip a coil at its axis of rotation.

16. The system of claim 15 in which said sup porting means comprises spaced supporting por tions, said means for moving said coil from said platform means to said supporting means comprising lift means coupled to said platform means and positioning a coil on said platform means between said spaced supporting portions.

17. The combination set forth in claim 9, and overriding manual control means connected to supersede said control means responsive to said strip.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17, means to position a coil on said means for supporting a coil comprising a movable table and coil detecting and measuring means controlling in part the movement of said table, said means for supporting comprising relatively movable arbors with respect to which said coil detecting and measuring means controls the movement of said coil positioning means, means to move said arbors with respect to each other and switch means positioned and connected to determine the .swmovement ofrarbors so as to support a coil for :rotation.

- 19. In combination in a 'stripstarterfor-coiled :strip,uneans to support a coil .of stripfor rotation I in strip peeling-position;strippeeling means "com- .prising a movable memberhaving a strip engag- Ling nose portion. on apart thereof extending towardiacoil or: strip positioned to be peeled,isaid peeling :means beingrmounted for movement to and from coiltpositionzonsaid support means, i "drive means forsaid means to "support forrotar tion asupportedrcoilxmeans to move: said memulber: and said striplengagingnose portion into strip peeling.engagementiwith :a .coil in position to be stripped, guide means for directing peeled strip to a desired location forprocessing, first :control a. nreans'f or. isaid-idriveimeans, .second control means 1 'iorxsaid means totmoveisaid movable: member and nose portion and overriding manual-control means:connected to: supersedesaid first and sec- 0nd controlmeans.

20. :The combinationiset forthinclaim 19, said :first and second control means comprising switches actuated by :said strip.

21. The. combination lsetuforth in "claim 20,

coiledstrip supply means .comprisingmeans to support a plurality of .coilsof strip ready forpeelwing, movable stopmean'sforsaid coils constructed tocontrol their 's'equential advance, coil positioningmeanerneans constructed to determine the presence 'of laicoil onlsaid positioning means,

saidcoil positioning..meansconstructed to posiction coils sequentially on said means tosupport -a.coil for rotation.

22. .The combinationset forth in claim 21, said vsmeans to-determinethe presence of a coil coml :prisingfeeler arm means "constructed to measure uthe: eiiectiveradius of a coil of: strip onsaid positioning means: and being also constructed to con- 1 trolthe.movementot said positioning means with respect to said :means to support a c'oilforrota- .tion so as to position a; coil to'bepeeled accurately with respect to said means to support.

23; .The combination set forth .in claim 19, said L-first and. second control: mea-ns comprising ravitches:actuated by said strip, stripv gripping means constructed to receive a peeled end of strip, :xto exert an unwinding force thereon and to direct :thestrip end to apoint of further processing,

24. The combination set forth in claim 23, said i tStllp gripping means comprising relatively movable spaced rollers arranged to receive a strip end therebetween, drive means for at least one of "said rollers controlled by said s erip.

, 25. The combination set forth in claim 24,- said gripping rollers being mounted on and carried by the -movable member of said-peeling'means, one ofsaid rollers being bodily'movable toward the other of said rollers in responseto the'presence ofstrip therebetween. .26. The combination setforthin claim 19, a pivoted. strip guide member mounted adjacent said -.strip rpeeling means and constructed to cover a portion of a coil in position to be peeled and the said nose portion and means to pivot saidpivoted guide member. into guiding position.

116 2'1. The combination set'forth in: claim 26, secondary guide means located below said nose portion and adjacent said coil and curved to move a strip end not engaged by said nose portion toward a the body of a coil being peeled.

28; The combination set forth in claim 27, additional guide means movably mounted to cooperate with said pivoted guide member to surround-and enclose the upper side of a coilbeing peeled and to aid in guiding strip being peeled to a point of subsequent handling.

29. The combination set'forth in claim 19, said overriding manual control means being connected to supersede selectively said first'and secondcontrol means, and strip gripping means carried by said movable memberconstructed toaid in the peeling of strip from a coil.

30. In combination in a strip starter-for :coiled strip, means to supports coil of strip for rotation in strip peeling position, strip peeling means comprising a member having a strip engaging nose portion on a part thereof extending toward a coil of strip positioned to be peeled, said peeling means and said means to support a coil in strippeeling position being relatively-movable"into and out of strippeeling relatiomdrive'means for said means to support a supported 'coil'for rotation, means to cause said relative movement into strip peeling engagement-position,'guide means for clirecting'peeled strip to a desired location, a first control-means for-said drive means, a second controlmeans for said means to cause said relative movement into and out of strip peelingrelaticn and overriding manual control means connected to supersede atleast one of said'control'means. .31.:The combination set forth in claim 30,said overriding" manual control being connected to supersedeselectively said first and second control -means.

82. The combination set'forth in claim 31, said means to support a coil of strip'for rotationcomprising-a-pair ofarbors mountedfor movement along thelongitudinal axis of a-fcoil mounted to be peeled,-"saidmemberhaving a' strip engaging "nose; portion :havingistrip gripping rollermeans I :mounted thereon constructed to'pull strip from a coil.

- 33. The-combination:set-forth in claim 32, coil "positioning means arranged to position a coil on said means to support aicoil forrotation, means toniove sai'dcoil position-ing meansfrom coil receiving position to cell positioning position and back to: can "receiving position comprising drive m-eans; :means to measure coil diameter, stop means cont-rolled by said diameter measuring means and return meanscontrolled b'y the move- .'.:ment ofzsaidzarbors.

e 4' in -;E 2eferences Cited in'the :file of this. patent 

